1 Human Resource Management – HR Planning 2 Human Resource Management – Legal 3 Compensation & Benefits 4 Performance Management, Training & Development 5 Safety & Health, Labor Relations & Drugs in the Workplace
Human Resource Management – HR Planning
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration http://www.doleta.gov/business/ The “Business” section of this Dept. of Labor web site. Lots of resources for businesses trying to do the best job they can when hiring employees.
O*Net Occupational Information Network http://online.onetcenter.org/ THE place to go to find occupations and information about them. Note the link to the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) at http://www.jan.wvu.edu and the ADA site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Dictionary of Occupational Titles for Immigrants http://www.wave.net/upg/immigration/dot_index.html Since the DOT was revised, it’s sometimes easier to view these occupational descriptions through other eyes. Although created to help place immigrants, this site is extemely helpful.
HR Guide to Web Services http://www.hr-guide.com/ Unlike the hrVillage and HRzone sites, this is a clearing house of information from various sources. It’s especially useful as a site to search for Job Analysis links and descriptions of relevant terms.
Diversity Inc. Online Magazine http://www.diversityinc.com/ An online magazine with a print version set up to showcase issues of diversity for those people who are advocates for this cause. Unfortunately, they try to sell subscriptions rather than give free access to information, so much of this site is not visible to the casual viewer.
Personnel Systems & Technologies Corp. http://www.pstc.com/ The firm that developed and sells consulting services related to the Common Metric Questionnaire, a major job analysis tool. This is a VERY professional site with lots of information and conceptual stuff. TAKE A LOOK, HERE.
Position Analysis Questionnaire http://www.paq.com/ The site for getting information about this popular job analysis tool.
Work Profiling System http://www.shldirect.com/index.html A consulting firm with offices all over the world develops and sells assessment tools for recruiting, selecting, developing and monitoring performance. This link brings you to the section of their website where you can check out some questions that may be asked during interviews to assess the ability of potential employees to do certain types of jobs.
HRnext http://www1.hrnext.com/Index.cfm HRnext.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of Business & Legal Reports, Inc. based in Old Saybrook, CT. This is another one of those questionable sites, with much content only available to members, but still has some forms and articles that are useful. Check out the “Staffing and Recruiting” section in the Library.
Proctor & Gamble http://www.pg.com/main.jhtml I’ve included this site because they have an AWESOME recruiting set-up. Click on “Jobs” and investigate their recruiting philosophy and job openings.
Connecticut Business & Industry Association http://www.cbia.com/HR/HRIssuesAndLaws/ According to their website, “CBIA is the largest statewide business organization in the country, with 10,000 member companies. We’re the voice of business and industry at the state Capitol.” This is a well-respected source of help for many CT businesses. Worth bookmarking.
Bureau of Labor Statistics http://stats.bls.gov/ One more government site: this one gives you up-to-date info on important statistics you need to do your HR planning. Check it out.
Quick Check for Business Statistics http://bizstats.com/ A quick check for analysis of various businesses & industries, with useful financial ratios and benchmarks, info on important statistics you need to do your HR planning. Check it out.
Human Resource Management – Legal
Legal and Regulatory Information for America’s Small Businesses http://www.Business.gov Set up as an offshoot of the SBA (Small Business Administration), this site tries to service the small business owner, with links to lots of other critical government entities. As the site description says, “Business.gov is an online resource guide designed to provide information to America’s small businesses…One of the main reasons small businesses fail is because they don’t seek help at critical development stages. Business.gov assumes that every business stage is a critical one. Our goal is to provide knowledge of basic issues so that businesses can identify potential problems early and take preventative action.”
U.S. Department of Labor – Summary of Major Laws http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/lawsprog.htm This is just an overview site, with a multitude of links back to specific parts of the DOL. Easy to get lost here, it still is an important site to bookmark.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace http://www.sexualharass.com/sexual-harassment/case-studies.htm This site provides case studies that illustrate how some of the most important sexual harassment legal decisions have been applied. At the end of the case studies is a link to a sexual harassment quiz, “how much do you know about sexual harassment?”
Legal Information Institute – Cornell Law School http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/Employment_discriminationl The stated mission of this site is to make the law more accessible, by “facilitating the use and understanding of law materials by those who are not expert researchers of U.S. legal documents – including students, professionals from other fields heavily touched by law, lawyers and judges from outside the U.S., and ordinary citizens.” Again, one can get easily lost, but the links are awesome.
Connecticut Department of Labor http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/ Information specific to CT. I find this site confusing and unhelpful at times, but it’s still essential to keep up with what’s happening.
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities http://www.state.ct.us/chro/ For those employees who want to sue their employers, THIS IS THE PLACE! I think this site is much more interesting than the CT DOL site …
EEOC – U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission http://www.eeoc.gov/index.html Here you can find the actual text of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (try www.eeoc.gov/laws.html), as well as lots of other things of serious interest.
The CT General Assembly Main Site http://www.cga.ct.gov/ This is a confusing but fascinating look at CT State Government. If you want to find out what your elected legislature is doing, check this out. (Hint: click on the “Site Map”to locate interesting sections.) For instance, laws relating to employment are posted here prior to their discussion and vote. Also, if you want to find out the actual text of a law, you can find it here, if you know where to look!
CT Permanent Commission of the Status of Women http://www.cga.ct.gov/pcsw/ Just a look at special interest groups, and the leading force in CT for public policy on woman’s issues. Also supports the CT mandated sexual harassment training.
Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures http://www.uniformguidelines.com/uniformguidelines.html Although sponsored by an Affirmative Action consulting group, this site is the most accessible explanation of the EEOC’s procedural document for making sure selection procedures are fairly administered. Pay close attention to this website when we discuss recruitment and selection.
Compensation & Benefits
HR/Payroll Industry Links via Ceridian Corporation http://www.ceridian.com/myceridian/nav/1,2482,10010,00.html Ceridian is an outsource resource for payroll and other HR functions. Browse their site to see what products and services such a provider offers. I’m not sure how long this link will remain active, but it has a nice list of services offered and links to other sites relating to payroll and compensation (See the “HR/Payroll Industry Web Links”).
Position Analysis Questionnaire Guidelines http://web.indstate.edu/humres/employment/paq_guidelines.html This is a document provided by the Human Resource Department at Indiana State University, for use by university managers to analyze jobs and determine pay. It contains a description of how the PAQ is used as part of the university Salary Program. This should be familiar to you, reminding you of the 3 purposes of a job analysis: job description, job specification and job evaluation. If you search “Google” for “position analysis questionnaire” you’ll come up with lots of examples of how this tool is used in universities, especially, to evaluate jobs and determine pay ranges.
Hay Group http://www.haygroup.com/ This is a consulting organization, true, but one of the MOST respected ones in HRM. As they say, “Hay Group is a professional services firm that helps organizations worldwide get the most from their people by creating clarity, capability and commitment. Founded in 1943 in Philadelphia, today we work from 73 offices in 38 countries.” They do extensive benchmarking of compensation and benefits, and perform job evaluations, help with executive assessment, selection and development. Many larger organizations use their services for job analysis or job evaluation. You can register with their web site and get access to articles and research for free.
World at Work: The Professional Association for Compensation, Benefits and Total Rewards http://www.worldatwork.org/ This is the professional organization for compensation and benefits professionals. You can sign up for the free e-newsletter and browse headlines to see what’s currently being discussed in this area.
Employee Benefit Research Institute http://www.ebri.org/ As they state on their website, “Established in 1978, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) is the only nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed exclusively to data dissemination, policy research, and education on economic security and employee benefits. The Institute’s mission is to advance the public’s, the media’s and policymakers’ knowledge and understanding of employee benefits and their importance to our nation’s economy.” Of particular interest is their testimony last Spring to the House Ways and Means Committee: “Retirement Security: Picking Up the Enron Pieces – The Role of Company Stock in 401(k) Plans”. (Go to the site and search for Enron to find the full text of this presentation.)
Business Week Online: Company Research http://bwnt.businessweek.com/company/search.asp Use one of the most trusted business publications to find out more about a company before you decide if you want to work there. As they say, “Before you take that job at Big Happy Family Corp. or NoPayJustOptions.com, get a little more information. What do the employees really think of the place? Will it work you to death? Does it keep its promises? And how is its stock doing?” Great fun!
Aetna Insurance: Flexible Spending Accounts http://www.aetna.com/fsa/index.html Here is the site where Aetna, one of the largest insurance companies, provides information about a fairly new kind of benefit, the Flexible Spending Account. Of interest to those of you responsible for benefits programs, and for the rest of you to see how creative the benefits environment has had to become in recent years.
Benefits.net – the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation http://www.benefits.net/index.htm A website sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, this provides information on legislation, tax law, surveys and general information related to cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts and other types of flexible benefits. Click on “Flexible Benefits Basics” under “Publications” for some definitions and basic information.
Benefit News Online http://www.benefitnews.com/index.cfm This website, “Benefitnews.com, from the producers of Employee Benefit News, is a complete online resource for benefits and HR professionals.” If you’re at all interested in what’s happening within this very complex HR function, you can subscribe to their FREE online newsletter, and get weekly emails on current topics. Browse some of the articles on this site for valuable insights. A most helpful site to bookmark.
Ergoweb – The Trusted Source for Ergonomics http://www.ergoweb.com/index.cfm Here is an interesting site that grew out of the concern for increasing $$ settlements in worker’s comp cases related to repetitive motion injuries. In an attempt to reduce these claims and promote “wellness” in the workplace, a whole new business developed. As described in the website, “Ergoweb, Inc., “the place for ergonomics,” is a full-service ergonomics company, providing innovative software solutions, professional consultation and training, and valuable, credible information to a worldwide audience. Our company was established January 1, 1995 to market, distribute, maintain, and improve the software products resulting from research in the Ergonomics and Design group at the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.”
Clark Consulting – Executive Benefits Consulting http://www.clarkconsulting.com/index.shtml I have included this site just to show you what enterprising HR benefits professionals can do: develop a practice concentrating on how to design perks for keeping executives happy…
Performance Management, Training & Development
American Society for Training and Development http://www.astd.org/ This organization is the equivalent of SHRM. Formed to serve the consultants and practitioners of training and human resource development, it has members world wide. Most of the site is available to members only, but you can read about the T&D function by clicking “Training Fundamentals” on the left hand border. Once in the “Learning Community”, click on any topic, “Reading & Resources” for access to articles and ideas.
The Association for Quality and Participation http://www.aqp.org/ The organization is an outgrowth of the employee empowerment, self-directed work team, quality improvement team movement started in the late 1970s. For those of you who like the idea of employee involvement in performance assessment, this is a very helpful organization. To sample articles from their Journal, click on “Publications”.
International Society for Performance and Improvement http://www.ispi.org/ This world-wide organization invented the field of “performance technology” which refers to a more academic, or theoretical, and technical approach to performance improvement. Here is where you will find a definition and example of a “job aid”, useful information to know when doing your homework assignment… (Go to “Search This Site”, type in “job aid”, from the list that appears select “99 Seconds On Line”, from the list that appears select “Kathleen S. Whiteside: Performance Review Analysis Worksheet”.)
Center for Effective Performance http://www.cepworldwide.com/index.html This is a consulting group and publisher, provider of performance improvement consulting, and exclusive source for materials and workshops developed by Dr. Robert F. Mager. Click “View Newsletters” to read articles on training and performance improvement. See especially “How to Conduct a Needs Assessment That Gets Results”.
Workforce: HR Trends & Tools for Business Results http://www.workforceonline.com/ This is the website for the magazine “Workforce” and has many excerpts from its publications available on the web site. They are known for some focus on compensation and benefits, so check this section out.
Zigon Performance Group Online http://www.zigonperf.com/ This is the web site for Jack Zigon, performance management consultant. It is worth checking out for the extensive postings he maintains of FREE performance measurement resources.
Team Builders Plus http://www.teambuildersplus.com/ This is another consulting firm, selling training and performance management solutions. I selected this site because they post some articles and descriptions of 360 degree feedback, which is their major area of expertise. If you’re interested in learning more about this, check them out.
Development Dimensions International http://www.ddiworld.com/default.asp DDI is one of the most well-known developers for “off-the-shelf” solutions for selection and training needs. They developed the “Discipline” training video. As they say on the website, “For more than three decades, Development Dimensions International has worked with some of the world’s most successful organizations to achieve superior business results by building engaged, high performing workforces. We excel in two major areas–designing and implementing selection systems that enable you to hire better people faster and identifying and developing exceptional leadership talent crucial to creating a workforce that drives business results. We don’t measure success just by how many people complete a leadership development program or how many open positions get filled. We measure it by how effectively our solutions are applied. And by positive changes in the performance of your workforce leading to sustainable business results.”
Achieve Global http://www.achieveglobal.com/ Achieve Global is another well-respected vendor of “off-the-shelf” training and performance solutions. They compete with DDI for many of the same clients.
Safety & Health, Labor Relations & Drugs in the Workplace
NIOSH – The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html Helpful information about how to keep the workplace safe and, again, reduce worker’s comp claims. “The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. The Institute is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration http://www.osha.gov/ Part of the Department of Labor, you all know about this agency, which has the ability to fine or shut down organizations who violate workplace safety laws.
National Labor Relations Board http://www.nlrb.gov/ This is the site that houses information about the National Labor Relations Board. As they say, “the NLRB is an independent Federal agency created in 1935 to enforce the National Labor Relations Act. We conduct secret-ballot elections to determine whether employees want union representation and we investigate and remedy unfair labor practices by employers and unions. To find out more about your rights under the Act (as well as other labor laws) and how to file a charge or election petition, start by clicking the Help Desk button.”
UC Institute of Industrial Relations Library – Labor Research Portal http://www.iir.berkeley.edu/library/laborportal/index.html For those of you interested in doing research about the Labor movement or union organizing, or for access to databases related to union activity, especially in California, this is a good place to begin your serious research
Federal Labor Relations Authority http://www.flra.gov/ The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is an independent agency responsible for administering the labor-management relations program for 1.9 million Federal employees world-wide. Its mission is to promote stable and constructive labor-management relations that contribute to an efficient and effective government.
National Mediation Board http://www.nmb.gov/ Here’s an example of the specific agencies and skills that have evolved from labor relations issues. This is one of several mediation, arbitration or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) organizations that exist to assist parties in contract negotiations. “The National Mediation Board (NMB), established by the 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act of 1926, is an independent agency that performs a central role in facilitating harmonious labor-management relations within two of the nation’s key transportation modes–the railroads and airlines. Pursuant to the Railway Labor Act, NMB programs provide an integrated dispute resolution process to effectively meet the statutory objective of minimizing work stoppages in the airline and railroad industries.”
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service http://www.fmcs.gov/internet/ Here’s another government site set up to provide confict resolution. “Since 1947, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has provided mediation and arbitration services to industry, our communities and government agencies worldwide. Or mission is to improve labor-management relations, to promote collective bargaining and to enhance organizational effectiveness.”
Drug Free Workplace http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/ This site is sponsored by the Nationwide Medical Review, Dr. Daniel C. Drew and is a compliation of links to information about how to keep a workplace free of drugs. Check out the “Employers” section for interesting links to various pieces of information, like the laws
Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace http://www.drugfreeworkplace.org/index.html This is an example of how consultants make a living. According to the site description, in 1989 4 members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, lawyers, decided to form a non-profit group to partner with corporations to provide information about how to fight drug abuse in the workplace. Most of the information on this site is for sale, but there is an interesting, but dated (1995), survey about the extent of the drug problem in organizations.
Office of National Drug Control Policy http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html This is the site for federal drug control. From this main page, click on “Drug-Free Workplace” for more information related to this issue: “according to results from the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, of adults over age 18 who reported current illicit drug use (at least once in the past month)–77% are employed, either full or part-time.” Also click on “resources” for a good list of links to free resources for HR professionals.
